Right Turn on Red
#26
Keepin it Wheel




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That's a very illustrative google map, and I think reinforces my strategy. At the front of the crosswalk, in line with the bike lane paint, there is plenty of room for right turns, unless it's a humvee or bus or something.
Also, at the front of the crosswalk is maximum visibility of yourself to drivers parked at the light.
Also, at the front of the crosswalk is maximum visibility of yourself to drivers parked at the light.
#27
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
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I also set up on the left side of the right turn lane. It's safer, more efficient, and as a bonus, looks like you are doing a courtesy to right-turning drivers.
#28
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From: Fort Worth, Texas Church of Hopeful Uncertainty
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If I accommodate a right turner behind me, it's not by squeezing to the right.
I have a rearview mirror and can see what's coming up behind me. In the right lane I generally assume a center-left position. Sometimes that leaves plenty of room for people to turn right. No worries. Sometimes I will see a car come up behind me that looks like they want to turn right but there isn't enough room. If they aren't using their blinker, I don't care, they can wait. If they have their blinker on and I can squeeze a bit to the left to give them room, sometimes I'll do it (mostly based on how safe the maneuver is). Oddly, when I do that, it seems like even then people are hesitant to pass me to do their right hand turn.
I can't remember the last time I actually had someone get impatient behind me when they wanted to turn right though. They almost always wait. I think Fort Worth is in kind of a sweet spot - people have seen bikes on the road, but still haven't developed expectations of them, so the drivers are just not sure what to do and generally back off.
In the downtown area, the right light on many streets is reserved for bus and bicycle traffic only, except where there's a right turn lane. And even then there are signs that say "Right Turn Only Except Buses and Bikes." So I just sit there and let the car stew behind me most of the time (downtown there typically isn't enough room to squeeze over to let the car by.)
I have a rearview mirror and can see what's coming up behind me. In the right lane I generally assume a center-left position. Sometimes that leaves plenty of room for people to turn right. No worries. Sometimes I will see a car come up behind me that looks like they want to turn right but there isn't enough room. If they aren't using their blinker, I don't care, they can wait. If they have their blinker on and I can squeeze a bit to the left to give them room, sometimes I'll do it (mostly based on how safe the maneuver is). Oddly, when I do that, it seems like even then people are hesitant to pass me to do their right hand turn.
I can't remember the last time I actually had someone get impatient behind me when they wanted to turn right though. They almost always wait. I think Fort Worth is in kind of a sweet spot - people have seen bikes on the road, but still haven't developed expectations of them, so the drivers are just not sure what to do and generally back off.
In the downtown area, the right light on many streets is reserved for bus and bicycle traffic only, except where there's a right turn lane. And even then there are signs that say "Right Turn Only Except Buses and Bikes." So I just sit there and let the car stew behind me most of the time (downtown there typically isn't enough room to squeeze over to let the car by.)
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#29
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From: NW,Oregon Coast
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How is it a right hook if you are not even moving??
A cyclist in PDX was killed last week, by a tow truck towing a car, turning right.
personally, I dont want to be Dead right..
#30
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From: Meridian, ID
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I agree depending on the intersection it is also reasonable to position well out in front of the bike lane to leave room for right turners, and where intersections have very wide right turn only lanes I will often stay to the very left of the right turn lane.
Much of this is about what your lane position communicates to other drivers. You want them to know that you are going straight and that it is not OK for them to pass you on your left to make the right turn, so don't leave them any option to do so. Being at the curb is the worst place to be, and being in the middle of the right turn lane obstructing right turners just gets drivers mad. We can argue about whether or not they should be more patient, but it is human nature. I get it, I drive a car too, and it annoys me when I am held up from making a right turn because it is blocked by a cyclist who could just as easily and safely be out of the way. We have very long red lights around here, so a blocked right turn can back up a long line of cars, creating yet more safety issues and frustration farther down the line.
Much of this is about what your lane position communicates to other drivers. You want them to know that you are going straight and that it is not OK for them to pass you on your left to make the right turn, so don't leave them any option to do so. Being at the curb is the worst place to be, and being in the middle of the right turn lane obstructing right turners just gets drivers mad. We can argue about whether or not they should be more patient, but it is human nature. I get it, I drive a car too, and it annoys me when I am held up from making a right turn because it is blocked by a cyclist who could just as easily and safely be out of the way. We have very long red lights around here, so a blocked right turn can back up a long line of cars, creating yet more safety issues and frustration farther down the line.
#31
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More info from the OP...
The road is two lane curb and gutter, with one east-bound and one west-bound lanes. There are no right turn lanes. There are no center turn lanes. Just two lanes. The lanes are not standard 12' width and appear to be 10' in width. The stop bar (12" wide painted white line) is near the crossing traffic lanes, not pulled back from the intersection.
There is no room to move to the right of the lane to allow a car to go around my left side then turn right in front of me.
There is no room to move to the left of the lane and allow the car to go around my right side, unless the driver drives up onto the sidewalk.
I can't pull ahead of the white stop bar because cars making a left turn in front of me would run me over. They come pretty close as it is right now, and I'm behind the stop bar.
So, there's nowhere for me to go, except onto the adjacent sidewalk, or the adjacent lane, which would put me in a place to get plowed over by oncoming traffic.
I'm not going on the sidewalk.
Any traffic behind me will just have to wait, the same as I'm doing.
The road is two lane curb and gutter, with one east-bound and one west-bound lanes. There are no right turn lanes. There are no center turn lanes. Just two lanes. The lanes are not standard 12' width and appear to be 10' in width. The stop bar (12" wide painted white line) is near the crossing traffic lanes, not pulled back from the intersection.
There is no room to move to the right of the lane to allow a car to go around my left side then turn right in front of me.
There is no room to move to the left of the lane and allow the car to go around my right side, unless the driver drives up onto the sidewalk.
I can't pull ahead of the white stop bar because cars making a left turn in front of me would run me over. They come pretty close as it is right now, and I'm behind the stop bar.
So, there's nowhere for me to go, except onto the adjacent sidewalk, or the adjacent lane, which would put me in a place to get plowed over by oncoming traffic.
I'm not going on the sidewalk.
Any traffic behind me will just have to wait, the same as I'm doing.
#32
Keepin it Wheel




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From: San Diego
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Cars are not 10 feet wide, if you move to the left side of the lane there should be room for a right turn.
Yes, quite often in my car I wish I had a CB so I could ask some thoughtless driver if they could use some of the gap in front of them to skooch a couple feet left so I could turn right (same for trying to get into a left turn lane). And very often if I am driving and see somebody coming up behind that can't get by me to turn right, I try to move forward and left if I can, to let them by, or think ahead and get leftward in my lane as I come to a stop to make room for anybody that might want to get by.
It's just polite. There are times to stand your ground and agitate for cyclists' rights, but don't be a d1ck, it's bad for the rest of us.
If I had the time, I would ask them if they would ask a driver of a car to move over so they can make the right on red
It's just polite. There are times to stand your ground and agitate for cyclists' rights, but don't be a d1ck, it's bad for the rest of us.
#33
If there's a right turn lane I don't use it if I'm not taking a right. In that case I'd be in the through lane, in the middle, holding cars back until I've cleared the intersection and it's safe to pass. I move in traffic as if I'm a slow moving vehile, that's the law....
#34
More info from the OP...
The road is two lane curb and gutter, with one east-bound and one west-bound lanes. There are no right turn lanes. There are no center turn lanes. Just two lanes. The lanes are not standard 12' width and appear to be 10' in width. The stop bar (12" wide painted white line) is near the crossing traffic lanes, not pulled back from the intersection.
There is no room to move to the right of the lane to allow a car to go around my left side then turn right in front of me.
There is no room to move to the left of the lane and allow the car to go around my right side, unless the driver drives up onto the sidewalk.
I can't pull ahead of the white stop bar because cars making a left turn in front of me would run me over. They come pretty close as it is right now, and I'm behind the stop bar.
So, there's nowhere for me to go, except onto the adjacent sidewalk, or the adjacent lane, which would put me in a place to get plowed over by oncoming traffic.
I'm not going on the sidewalk.
Any traffic behind me will just have to wait, the same as I'm doing.
The road is two lane curb and gutter, with one east-bound and one west-bound lanes. There are no right turn lanes. There are no center turn lanes. Just two lanes. The lanes are not standard 12' width and appear to be 10' in width. The stop bar (12" wide painted white line) is near the crossing traffic lanes, not pulled back from the intersection.
There is no room to move to the right of the lane to allow a car to go around my left side then turn right in front of me.
There is no room to move to the left of the lane and allow the car to go around my right side, unless the driver drives up onto the sidewalk.
I can't pull ahead of the white stop bar because cars making a left turn in front of me would run me over. They come pretty close as it is right now, and I'm behind the stop bar.
So, there's nowhere for me to go, except onto the adjacent sidewalk, or the adjacent lane, which would put me in a place to get plowed over by oncoming traffic.
I'm not going on the sidewalk.
Any traffic behind me will just have to wait, the same as I'm doing.
#35
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I understand why you might sometimes refuse, but always refusing means you either have a bug up your rear end, or are just a jerk.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#36
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I see no reason to not let them through if there's room to do so safely. In fact, I almost always position myself to the left at a red so that cars can turn right if they need to. Of course, being on the left frequently involves jumping the line which is probably even more controversial on this VC-centric forum.
Last edited by spare_wheel; 06-01-15 at 02:28 PM.
#37
So the answer to my question is no..? I am not insinuating that you are using the right turn lane (although it's not unreasonable to rest on the curb there), I am asking to clarify as to where exactly in the lane you are sitting when the right-turner behind you becomes impatient.
#38
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It's just polite. There are times to stand your ground and agitate for cyclists' rights, but don't be a d1ck, it's bad for the rest of us.
#39
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From: columbus, ohio
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I move to the left to allow the right on red turn of the car behind me. However, if there is no room as you have stated, then that's your answer.
#40
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From: San Diego
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Whenever I'm driving and am caught behind someone who has an ample gap in front of them and won't make any attempt to make room for me, I consider them a d1ck.
I have never been held up in my car by a cyclist who refused to make room, because I don't drive so much, and cyclists are not too frequent. But as a cyclist I often make way for behind-right-turners, because if I didn't I would feel like a d1ck. My goals when cycling are to: 1. not die 2. get where I'm going 3. communicate to cars that I (and by implication other cyclists) am willing to hold up my end of the social contract of Sharing the road. I.e. not be a d1ck.
I have never been held up in my car by a cyclist who refused to make room, because I don't drive so much, and cyclists are not too frequent. But as a cyclist I often make way for behind-right-turners, because if I didn't I would feel like a d1ck. My goals when cycling are to: 1. not die 2. get where I'm going 3. communicate to cars that I (and by implication other cyclists) am willing to hold up my end of the social contract of Sharing the road. I.e. not be a d1ck.
#41
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From: La La Land (We love it!)
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If I'm going to be stopping at the light, I move to the center of the right-most thru lane. This leaves the right clear for right turners, avoids putting me in a position to get right hooked, and when the light turns green I move to the right as I ride thru the intersection (after a quick glance over my right shoulder) so the straight thru cars can pass me.
If there are already cars stopped at the intersection I will take my place in line behind the cars going straight. Again, right in the center of the lane so that motorists don't try to pass me and so that right turners see that I am well clear of their path.
Try it some time, I've never been honked at for this maneuver, and I've never been buzzed by a car from behind. There is nothing to be gained for cyclists by getting drivers upset. In fact this does the opposite as they see I am obviously trying to not obstruct them. We are trying to get more of our club members to ride this way.
If there are already cars stopped at the intersection I will take my place in line behind the cars going straight. Again, right in the center of the lane so that motorists don't try to pass me and so that right turners see that I am well clear of their path.
Try it some time, I've never been honked at for this maneuver, and I've never been buzzed by a car from behind. There is nothing to be gained for cyclists by getting drivers upset. In fact this does the opposite as they see I am obviously trying to not obstruct them. We are trying to get more of our club members to ride this way.
As for rude cyclists, I drive a car too, so I can empathize with both sides of this topic.
Perhaps if more people tried to do that traffic would be a bit easier regardless of one's mode of transportation...
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#42
There are a couple of intersections where I face this and I usually get in the left tire track which gives most cars plenty of room to make their right turns.
That said RIGHT ON RED IS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS! There is a reason it has been outlawed throughout Europe (and elsewhere). As well, European traffic engineers have significantly reduced the radius of curbs at intersections to force drivers to slow down when they turn.
That said RIGHT ON RED IS EXCEPTIONALLY DANGEROUS! There is a reason it has been outlawed throughout Europe (and elsewhere). As well, European traffic engineers have significantly reduced the radius of curbs at intersections to force drivers to slow down when they turn.
#43
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I always pull as far forward as I can, like to the front of the crosswalk, while remaining about in line with the painted bike lane. That far forward, there is always room for people to right turn behind me, because the curb curves away well before it gets up to me. Still, I more often find timid drivers waiting, and I try to wave them through, let them know, yes I see you, yes I'm fine with you going through, thanks for thinking of me.
#44
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#45
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They aren't timid, they don't understand what you have done. If you want to make it more clear then the thing to do is stop well short of the intersection. Like two or three car lengths short. Cars will pass by you and make the right turn at the intersection knowing that you don't want to turn right. Anything else will confuse them. At least they wait. On the east coast someone might shoot you.
#47
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From: SF Bay Area
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This. Also, as I learned the hard way, some cars will just right hook you anyway if you are hugging the curb on the right. What Caloso said helps me, as well as the car that wants to turn right.
#48
Cycling is no different from any other aspect of life--I try to do unto others as I would like them to do unto me. Why act like an ass when with minimal effort you can be Mr. Nice Guy? Karma--what goes around comes around.
#49
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From: Delaware
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Proper cycling dictates that you position yourself at the far right of the lane you will be proceeding in. So either way, you should either be stopped by the curb to the right or on or near the "line" between the turning lane and the thru lane, not in the middle of the lane.
I can't speak for other riders states but generally the "take the lane" right is when it is necessary for the cyclists safety, not for general riding.
I firmly believe that people like the OP end up hurting cycling in general and could lead to anti-bicycle road rage causing problems not only for themselves but also for other riders. A bicycle is not a car and even in states that recognize a bike as a vehicle, it still usually doesn't get the exact same rights as cars. Here in Delaware, bikes are considered vehicles, but still can't travel on certain highways and bridges. I can take the lane only when necessary.
Law and rights aside, the bottom line is that you're on a +/-20 lb. piece of carbon, aluminum, titanium or steel. They are in 3000-4000 lb. vehicles. Ultimately it's like taking a knife to a gunfight. The "I'm a cyclist and I have rights" is silly. Change have to had and it will make a great slogan for a tombstone someday.
I can't speak for other riders states but generally the "take the lane" right is when it is necessary for the cyclists safety, not for general riding.
I firmly believe that people like the OP end up hurting cycling in general and could lead to anti-bicycle road rage causing problems not only for themselves but also for other riders. A bicycle is not a car and even in states that recognize a bike as a vehicle, it still usually doesn't get the exact same rights as cars. Here in Delaware, bikes are considered vehicles, but still can't travel on certain highways and bridges. I can take the lane only when necessary.
Law and rights aside, the bottom line is that you're on a +/-20 lb. piece of carbon, aluminum, titanium or steel. They are in 3000-4000 lb. vehicles. Ultimately it's like taking a knife to a gunfight. The "I'm a cyclist and I have rights" is silly. Change have to had and it will make a great slogan for a tombstone someday.





